One of the most frequent questions that we hear as a pediatric dentist is, “When should I start bringing my child to the dentist?” The answer: around the time of your child’s first birthday. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Dental Association all recommend that children have their first dental visits and establish a dental home around the time of their first birthday.

Some babies begin sucking on fingers or thumbs as early as the womb. The sucking reflex is natural, and a pacifier may help to soothe and comfort a cranky baby. Your little one should begin to lose interest in the pacifier on her own between the ages of 2 to 4. If the attachment is strong, however, you may require an intervention plan. Here are three tips to help you wean the little one from her beloved binky for good:

Fluoride is proven to help prevent tooth decay. That’s why fluoride is the active ingredient in the majority of toothpastes. You don’t have to rely on toothbrushing alone, when fluoride treatments help prevent cavities by up to 80 percent!

When it comes to children’s health, sometimes it’s best to do less and take the gentler approach. The same philosophy goes for whitening teeth. Do-it-yourself and professional whitening agents can cause tooth sensitivity, so we recommend waiting until the little ones aren’t so little before taking this cosmetic step.

People with diabetes must watch their carbohydrate intake. The American Diabetes Association states that the balance between insulin levels in the body and the type of carbohydrates one eats makes a difference in blood glucose levels.

Our knowledge about nutrition has evolved beyond the old school pyramid. According to Food Business News, the perception about snacking has changed. Rather than something to avoid, they’re an opportunity to eat something good for you. When chosen from core food groups rather than starchy carbs that are also bad for the teeth, snacks are an opportunity to gain much-needed nutrients.

According to the CDC, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related emergencies. About 45 percent of those consist of severe fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, and amputations.

Kids love visuals, whether they’re pictures in books or graphics to go with a lesson at school. In addition to being fun, pictures help kids to learn. While the spoken words disappear and can be forgotten, visuals give them time to process and remember.

There are 65 grams of sugar—the equivalent of 22 packs—in a regular 20-ounce can of soda. This begs the question posed by the Rethink Your Drink campaign: “You wouldn’t eat 22 packs of sugar a day, so why would you drink them?”